Augmentation of NK Cell Activity by a Circulating Peptide Isolated from the Plasma of Trauma Patients

• Published in: Annals of surgery Vol. 203; no. 1; pp. 21 - 24
• Main Authors: MORRISON, GREGORY, CUNNINGHAM-RUNDLES, SUSANNA, CLOWES, GEORGE H. A, STAHL, WILLIAM M
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Hagerstown, MD Copyright Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved 01.01.1986; Lippincott
• Subjects: Anesthesia. Intensive care medicine. Transfusions. Cell therapy and gene therapy; Biological and medical sciences; Blood Proteins - pharmacology; Emergency and intensive care: injuries, diseases due to physical agents. Diving. Drowning. Disaster medicine; Humans; Intensive care medicine; Interferon Type I - pharmacology; Interferon-gamma - pharmacology; Killer Cells, Natural - drug effects; Killer Cells, Natural - immunology; Medical sciences; Proteoglycans; Wounds and Injuries - immunology; Natural killer cell; Human; Peptides; Trauma; Resuscitation; Blood plasma
• ISSN: 0003-4932; 1528-1140
• DOI: 10.1097/00000658-198601000-00004

Natural killer cell (NK) activity was assessed in patients with nonthermal injury. NK activity was assessed employing a standard 4-hour 51Cr release. Peripheral mononuclear cells from healthy human donors and trauma ward patients served as effector cells at three effector/target ratios. Labeled K562 erythroleukemia cells were used as targets. Multiple dilutions of crude and purified proteolysis inducing factor (PIF), isolated from three septic patients, were evaluated in comparison with other adjuvants. Greater augmentation of anti-K562 activity was obtained in long-term pretreatment of effector cells with adjuvants present as opposed to immediate NK assay. Untreated effectors from trauma patients demonstrated the least amount of baseline NK activity; however, a combination of PIF and interferon showed the greatest cytotoxicity. Untreated healthy cells exhibited a significant (p less than 0.001), twofold greater amount of cytotoxicity than untreated trauma cells. PIF enhances NK activity and may be key to mobilization of host defense in trauma.